Space shuttle Endeavour was sent to the International Space Station for creating accommodations for a larger crew, fixing a solar wing which was not oriented in the right direction and installing a water recycling system, that can transform urine, sweat and moist into drinkable water.

The system is crucial for future space travel, as water is very important, and after long periods of time, astronauts, eventually, run out. The water recycling system is said to have cost NASA $154 million and that this is just a part of an even bigger project. The water recycling system is part of the $250 million regenerative life support system, which is designed to sustain larger crews on fewer supplies.

The water recycling system has been tried by astronauts for five days without any positive results and only today the device managed to run properly. NASA is still not certain if the water recycling system should remain on the Space Station or should it be brought back to earth with the departure of space shuttle Endeavour. Samples from the two successful tests ran today will be brought to Earth and analyzed in labs in order to determine if the resulted water is really drinkable.

Astronauts have already started today transferring materials set to return to earth on Endeavour’s flight back to Earth. The water recycling system will help astronauts embark in longer journey into outer space without the fear of running out of water. If all goes well with this technology, mankind might just see some big advances in terms of conservation and recycling, in general.